Animating device for figure toys

ABSTRACT

Pistol-type hand grip is swingably connected to a figure toy for swinging the figure toy through simulated baseball-batting, or the like, activities. Alternatively, the figure toy may be latched to the hand grip for other activities wherein an actuator may be selectively positioned to swing the figure toy&#39;&#39;s arm and leg, respectively.

itited States Patent Sapkus et a].

[ Apr. 1, 1975 ANIMATING DEVICE FOR FIGURE TOYS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPUCATIONS 1 1 lnventersr Jurgis n MahhattanBeach; 623,559 8/1961 Italy46/245 Stephen Lewis, Pac1fic Pallsades; Kurt Ru el Redondo Beach; JohnT. Bensoii? Eilcino, all of Calif. pmimry Examlr ler Louls ManceineAsszstant Examiner-Robert F. Cuttmg [73] Asslgneez Mattel, Inc.,Hawthorne, Cal1f. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max .E. Shirk; Stephen L. 22Filed: Dec. 26, 1973 Kmg [21] Appl. No.: 427,873

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 46/119, 46/128, 46/142, Pi ol-type hand gripis swingably connected to a fig- 46/148, 273/874 ure toy for swingingthe figure toy through simulated [51] Int. Cl A63h 11/00 allatting, orthe ik aetivities- Alternatively, [58] Field of Search 46/119, 128, 142,148, th figure y ay be lat hed to th and grip f r 46/245; 273/814 otheractivities wherein an actuator may be selectively positioned to swingthe figure toys arm and leg, re- References Cited spectively.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 2,088,510 7/1937Frasca 46/142 2 1 1 l/ 1 f I 124 1? 13 4: 16 I \v/dl l 7,7:' Z ,,2 I -1'f 15 {a g I 28 i I zq v: .w/ 1 1M 1' 164 DATENTEB APR H975 3874.1 12.

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ANIMATING DEVICE FOR FIGURE TOYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thebackground of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains generally to ananimating device for figure toys and more particularly to a simple,

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is aprimary object of the present invention to provide a new and usefulanimating device for figure toys.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an animatingdevice of the type described for selectively swinging a figure toys arm,torso or leg upon actuation of a trigger on a pistol-type hand grip.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a pistol-typehand grip is releasably connected to a figure toy by a waist bandencompassing the torso of the figure toy and pivotally connected to thehand grip through a latch which may be released by pulling a trigger onthe hand grip.

The trigger swings a primary lever which moves a push rod intoengagement with a secondary lever. The push rod and the secondary leverare carried by a slotted sleeve rotatably mounted in the hollow barrelportion of the hand grip. In a first rotated position of the sleeve, thesecondary lever swings a leg on the figure toy. The sleeve may then berotated to a second position where the secondary lever releases thelatch so that the figure toy will swing through an arc simulating abaseball batters swing, or the like. When the sleeve is rotated to athird position, the secondary lever is positioned to engage an armswinging mechanism when the trigger is actuated.

In a second embodiment of the invention, an armswinging lever isintegral with the trigger which selectively releases a spring-loadedleg-kicking lever and a torso-swinging spring.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to likeelements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view,with parts broken away to show internal construction, of a figure toy incombination with an animating device constituting a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial, side elevational view, with parts broken away toshown internal construction, of the combination of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of an appendageanimating means on the figure toy of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the appendage animatingmeans of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the animating deviceof FIG. 1 in a first operating position;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the device of FIG. 6 ina second operating position;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the device of FIG. 6 in a third operatingposition;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the connector whichconnects the device of FIG. 1 to a figure toy;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged, partial elevational views of the connectorshown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is an elevational view, with parts shown in cross section, of ananimating device constituting a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring again to thedrawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an animating deviceconstituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generallydesignated 150, is shown in combination with a figure toy 12 having alower torso portion 14 and an upper torso portion 16.

The lower torso portion 14 includes a front half 18 and a rear half 20which are connected together by a plurality of pins 22, 24 and 26 onrear half 20 which engage suitable sockets (not shown) on front half 18.

Rear half 20 also carries a larger pin 28 which is engaged in a socket30 on the front half 18.

The upper torso portion includes a front half 32 and a rear half 34which are connected together by a plurality of pins (not shown) whichengage sockets 38 provided on the rear half 34.

The upper torso portion 16 includes a reduced diameter, midrift portion40 engaged in the open top 42 of lower torso portion 14 and theseportions are connected together by a resilient, rubber-like connector 44having a headed upper end 46 engaged in an aperture 48 provided in apartition 50 disposed in the upper torso portion 16 at the base of acylindrical neck 52. Connector 44 includes a lower end 54 which isprovided with an aperture 56 which, in turn, may be engaged over pin 28before it is inserted into socket 30.

Figure toy 12 also includes a head 58 which is connected to neck 52 by amushroom pin 60 having a head 62 seated in a cavity 64 provided at thebase of head 58 and a button connector 66 seated in an annular channel68 provided in neck 52. Additionally, figure toy 12 includes a pair oflegs 70, 72 having upper ends 74 articulately mounted on balls 75 in legopenings 76 provided in the lower torso portion 14.

Upper torso portion 16 includes a pair of arm openings '78, 80 in whicharms 82, 84, respectively, are rotatably mounted by shoulder pins 86each having a first end 88 which carries a cross-bar, like the one shownat 90 for arm 82, embedded in a bulbous shoulder portion 92 thereof.Each pin 86 includes a second end 94 which is bifurcated and whichcarries a head 96. Each shoulder 92 is provided with an arcuate slot 98through which an associated one of the pins 86 extends so that the arms82, 84 may be swung laterally outwardly away from the upper torsoportion 16. Shoulder portion 92 for arm 84 frictionally engages armopening 80 and is maintained in engagement therewith due to thetensioning of pin 86 by trapping head 96 against a vertical web 100affixed to the upper rear torso half 34.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, figure toy 12 also includes anappendage or arm animating means 10 having a pinion gear 102 carried bya boss 104 journalled in shoulder opening 78 by a flange 106 trapped inan annular channel 108 (FIG. 1) provided in upper torso portion 16. Boss104 includes an open cylindrical portion 110 which is frictionallyengaged by shoulder 92 on arm 82 due to the force exerted by pin 86which passes through an aperture 112 in boss 104 and is maintainedtherein by head 96. Pin 86 carries a disc 114 serving as a thrustbearing for pinion gear 102.

Appendage animating means 10 includes a rack 116 carried by an arm 118formed integrally with an actuating plate 120. Plate 120 is shaped toform a continuation of the rear wall 122 of upper torso portion 16 andis swingably mounted in an opening 124 provided therein. Plate 120carries a trunion 126 journalled in vertical plates 128, 130 on rearwall 122 and maintained in position therein by suitable fingers, likethe one shown at 132 in FIG. 2 extending from front, upper torso half32.

Plate 120 carries a pair of stops 134, 136 (FIG. 1) which bottom outagainst rear wall 122 preventing plate 120 from passing beyond rear wall122 under the influence of the bias imparted by connector 44 due to itsengagement with a shelf 138 (FIG. extending inwardly from plate 120.

Referring now more in particular to FIG. 3, arm 82 may be manually swungrearwardly in the direction of arrow 140 or counterclockwise in thedirection of arrows 142 for 360 of rotation by exerting enough force toovercome the friction between shoulder 92 and boss 104, which remainsstationary due to the engagement of pinion 102 with rack 116 (FIG. 4).Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the appendageanimating means does not interfere with the normal play value of afigure toy wherein the child-user desires to manipulate the arms andlegs to different posed positions where the arms and legs will remainuntil they are again acted upon by an outside force.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the appendage animating means 10 may beused to cause figure toy 12 to simulate karate chops by first manuallypositioning arm 82 in the raised position shown in FIG. 4. Plate 120 maythen be moved in the direction of arrow 144 overcoming the bias exertedby connector 44 and moving rack 116 to rotate pinion gear 102sufficiently to swing arm 82 to the broken line position shown in FIG.4. The individual parts of appendage animating means 10 will then be inthe position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 whereupon plate 120 may bereleased and will be returned to the position shown in solid lines inFIG. 4 by connector 44.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6-10, the animating device 150 includesa pistol-type hand grip 152 having a handle portion 154, a trigger 156and a hollow barrel 158. Hand grip 152 may be swingably connected tofigure toy 12 by a waistband 160 which encompasses torso portions 14, 16and which is connected to barrel portion 158 by a pivot pin 162. As bestseen in FIG. 2, the major axis of figure toy 12 is approximatelyparallel to the major axis of pivot pin 162 and the major axis of barrel158 intersects the major axis of figure toy 12 substantially normalthereto so that figure toy 12 may be swung on an are about pivot pin 162in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Animating device 150 also includes a secondary lever 164 which isswingably mounted in a sleeve 166 (FIGS. 6 and 7) rotatably mounted inbarrel 158 so that the secondary lever 164 may be selectively moved fromthe position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 (where lever 164is adapted to swing leg to the positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherelever 164 is adapted to actuate arm 82 and to swing figure toy 12 aboutpivot pin 162, respectively. Lever 164 includes a free end 168 adaptedto engage plate when lever 164 is in its FIG. 7 position. A spindle 170is carried by lever 164 adjacent its free end 168 and is adapted toengage leg 70 when lever 164 is in the position shown in solid lines inFIGS. 1, 2 and 6. When sleeve 166 is rotated to place lever 164 in itsFIG. 8 position, a latch 172, which normally prevents swinging of figuretoy 12 about pivot pin 162, is brought into bridging engagement with aslot 174 in which lever 164 works in sleeve 166, so that lever 164 willrelease latch 172 when lever 164 is moved from the broken line positionshown in FIG. 8 to the solid-line position shown therein.

Referring more in particular to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, hand grip 152includes a right housing half 176 and a left housing half 178 in which aprimary lever 180 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and the trigger 156 are swingablymounted on trunions 182, 184 (FIG. 6) respectively. Trigger 156 may bemolded from a suitable polymeric material and includes an integral leafspring 186 which biases trigger 156 to the extended position shown inFIG. 6. Trigger 156 includes an upper end 188 engageable with primarylever 180 to swing it into engagement with a push rod 190 reciprocablymounted in a way 192 provided in sleeve 166 in the path-of-travel ofsecon dary lever 164 so that push rod 190 will swing lever 164 about itspivot pin 194, which is rotatably mounted in suitable sockets, like theone shown at 196 in sleeve 166. Thus, when trigger 156 is moved in thedirection of arrow 198, end 188 of trigger 156 will swing primary lever180 in the direction of arrow 200 causing push rod 190 and secondarylever 164 to move in the direction of arrow 200. It should be noted thatpush rod 190 engages primary lever 180 near its lower end 202 when thesecondary lever 164 is in its leg-swinging position, as shown in solidlinesin FIG. 6. When the secondary lever 164 is in the position shown inFIG. 7, push rod 190 engages primary lever 180 approximately midwaybetween end 202 and trunion 182. It has been found that it takes moreforce to actuate arm 82 by depressing plate 120 than it does to actuateleg 70. This additional force is offered by primary lever 180 actingthrough an increased lever arm when push rod 190 engages primary lever180 between its ends rather than at its lower end 202.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 6 and 81 1, hand grip 152 may be releasablyconnected to waist clamp 160 by a bracket 204, which carries pivot pin162 and latch 172 and which is swingably connected to left housing half178 by engaging pin 162 in a pair of gusset members 206, 208 formedintegrally with left housing half 178 when it is molded from a suitablepolymeric material. Bracket 204 is'e ngaged by the ends 210, 212 ofwaist clamp 1'60 and'carries athumb screw 214 adapted to threadedlyengage a threaded plate 215 on wais t 'clamp 160 to drive ends 210, 212into position in bracket 204 when thumb screw 214' is rotated inthe'dir'ection of arrow 216 (FIG. 9 i

In use,a child-user may rotate sleeve 166 until secondary lever 164 isin its FIG. 6 position. Trigger 156 may then be squeezed causing lever164 to engage leg 70 and swing it through a ball-kicking motion. Sleeve166 may then be rotated to its FIG. 8 position where latch 172 willbridge slot 174 so that lever 164 will engage latch 172 when trigger 156is squeezed causing figure toy 12 to swing in an are about pivot pin 162in simulation of a baseball batter, or the like. Sleeve 166 may then berotated until lever 164 is in its FIG. 7 position. Trigger 156 may thenbe squeezed causing end 168 of lever 164 to depress plate 120 (FIG. 5)so that animating means 10 will swing arm 82 downwardly in simulation ofa karate chop, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a figure toy animating device constituting asecond embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 150A,is shown in combination with the figure toy 12 and includes a hand grip152A on which a trigger 156A is swingably mounted by a pin 184A. Trigger156A is formed integrally with a leaf spring 186A and with anarm-swinging lever 164A. Hand grip 152A also includes a leg-swinginglever 164B swingably connected to grip 152A by a pivot pin 194A andbiased toward leg 70 by a spring 217. Leg swinging lever 1648 may beretained in the position shown in FIG. 12 against the force of spring217 by engaging a first ledge 218, which is formed on lever 1648, with asecond ledge 220, which is formed on trigger 156A. Spring 217 includesan arm 222 which encompasses a pivot pin 162A swingably connecting handgrip 152A to a waist clamp 160A. Spring arm 222 then engages waist clamp160A for swinging figure toy 12 in an are about pivot pin 162A whentrigger 156A is squeezed to release a finger 223 from locking engagementwith clamp 160A.

In the second embodiment 150A of the present invention, it is necessaryto cock either the leg-swinging lever 1648 or the waist clamp 160Aagainst the force of spring 217 before trigger 156A is squeezed. Thus,if leg swinging lever 1648 is first cocked and then trigger 156A issqueezed a slight amount, leg swinging lever 1648 will be released andspring 217 will drive it into engagement with leg 70 for swinging leg70. Further squeezing of trigger 156A will bring arm swinging lever 164Ainto engagement with plate 120 for swinging arm 80. If, on the otherhand, waist 122 clamp 160A is cocked, then the first increment ofmovement of trigger 156A will release finger 223 from waist clamp 160Aso that spring 217 will swing waist clamp 160A and figure toy 12 aboutpivot pin 162A.

While the particular figure toy animating devices herein shown anddescribed in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims F ing:

which form a part of this disclosure. Whenever the term means isemployed in these claims, the term is to be interpreted as defining thecorresponding structure illustrated and described theequivale nt ofthesamej What is claimed is: V

1. In combination with a figure toy having rotatable appendages andatorso, an animating device, comprising: j u

hand grip means adapted to be releasa bly connected .to said figure toyand manually manipulated by a user of said animating device;

connecting means engageable with said torso for connecting said handgrip means thereto with the major axis of said hand grip meansintersecting the major axis of said figure toy substantially normalthereto; and

pivot pin means swingably connecting said connecting means to said handgrip means, the major axis of said torso being substantially parallel tothe major axis of said pivot pin means, whereby said figure toy may beswung through an are about said pivot pin means.

2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein said connecting meanscomprises a band encompassing said torso at its midsection.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hand grip meansincludes lever means for engaging at least one of said appendages andactuating means for swinging said lever means into engagement with saidat least one of said appendages.

4. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said actuating meanscomprises:

trigger means swingably connected to said hand grip means;

primary lever means swingably mounted in said hand grip means in thepath of travel of said trigger means for actuation thereby;

rod means slidably mounted in said hand grip means in the path of travelof said primary lever means for actuation thereby; and

secondary lever means swingably mounted in said hand grip means in thepath of travel of said rod means for actuation thereby.

5. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said actuating meanscomprises:

a trigger swingably connected to said hand grip means, said triggerincluding a ledge engageable by said lever means for preventing movementthereof until said trigger is actuated; and

spring means connected to said lever means for biasing said lever meansinto engagement with said ledge until said trigger is moved out ofblocking engagement therewith and then rapidly swinging said lever meansito engagement with said at least one of said appendages.

6. A combination as stated in claim 4 wherein said rod means and saidsecondary lever means are mounted in a sleeve rotatably mounted in saidhand grip means in operative association with said primary lever meanswhereby the mechanical advantage exerted by said primary lever means maybe controlled by rotating said sleeve.

7. In combination with a figure toy having rotatable appendages and atorso, an animating device, comprisin this specification or.

hand grip means adapted to be releasably connected a leg-swinging leverswingably connected to said hand grip means;

spring means biasing said leg-swinging lever in a legkicking directionand biasing said connecting means in a torso-swinging direction; and

keeper means on said trigger for controlling opera- 'tion of saidleg-swinging lever and said connecting means, whereby said leg-swinginglever and said connecting means may be selectively cocked against saidtrigger and then released upon actuation of said trigger.

1. In combination with a figure toy having rotatable appendages and atorso, an animating device, comprising: hand grip means adapted to bereleasably connected to said figure toy and manually manipulated by auser of said animating device; connecting means engageable with saidtorso for connecting said hand grip means thereto with the major axis ofsaid hand grip means intersecting the major axis of said figure toysubstantially normal thereto; and pivot pin means swingably connectingsaid connecting means to said hand grip means, the major axis of saidtorso being substantially parallel to the major axis of said pivot pinmeans, whereby said figure toy may be swung through an arc about saidpivot pin means.
 2. A combination as stated in claim 1 wherein saidconnecting means comprises a band encompassing said torso at itsmidsection.
 3. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said handgrip means includes lever means for engaging at least one of saidappendages and actuating means for swinging said lever means intoengagement with said at least one of said appendages.
 4. A combinationas stated in claim 3 wherein said actuating means comprises: triggermeans swingably connected to said hand grip means; primary lever meansswingably mounted in said hand grip means in the path of travel of saidtrigger means for actuation thereby; rod means slidably mounted in saidhand grip means in the path of travel of said primary lever means foractuation thereby; and secondary lever means swingably mounted in saidhand grip means in the path of travel of said rod means for actuationthereby.
 5. A combination as stated in claim 3 wherein said actuatingmeans comprises: a trigger swingably connected to said hand grip means,said trigger including a ledge engageable by said lever means forpreventing movement thereof until said trigger is actuated; and springmeans connected to said lever means for biasing said lever means intoengagement with said ledge until said trigger is moved out of blockingengagement therewith and then rapidly swingiNg said lever means itoengagement with said at least one of said appendages.
 6. A combinationas stated in claim 4 wherein said rod means and said secondary levermeans are mounted in a sleeve rotatably mounted in said hand grip meansin operative association with said primary lever means whereby themechanical advantage exerted by said primary lever means may becontrolled by rotating said sleeve.
 7. In combination with a figure toyhaving rotatable appendages and a torso, an animating device,comprising: hand grip means adapted to be releasably connected to saidfigure toy and manually manipulated by a user of said animating device;connecting means engageable with said torso for connecting said handgrip means thereto; pivot pin means swingably connecting said connectingmeans to said hand grip means in such a manner that said figure toy maybe swung through an arc about said pivot pin means; a trigger swingablyconnected to said hand grip means, said trigger including anarm-swinging lever extending therefrom; a leg-swinging lever swingablyconnected to said hand grip means; spring means biasing saidleg-swinging lever in a leg-kicking direction and biasing saidconnecting means in a torso-swinging direction; and keeper means on saidtrigger for controlling operation of said leg-swinging lever and saidconnecting means, whereby said leg-swinging lever and said connectingmeans may be selectively cocked against said trigger and then releasedupon actuation of said trigger.